Angel's Peak (Virgin River #10)(50)

Sean briefly wondered if in an earlier life he had pissed off a bunch of tough old goddesses; he was surrounded by strong, opinionated women. “I completely understand. I have a lot to learn about her. About Rosie.”

“I don’t care what happens between you and Francine—she’s all grown up and can shoulder disappointment. But you’d better not let down my granddaughter, Sean.”

“I know,” he said. “You’re going to have a lot of backup in that department. My mother’s on the job, beating me with the guilt stick every chance she gets, and no one does guilt like an Irish Catholic mother. Are you going to give me a chance?”

“Yes,” she said, relaxing back in her chair. “Every chance. Don’t screw it up.”

“I’m doing everything I can, for both of them. I’m trying.”

“Well,” she said, taking a calming breath. “At least you’re honest.”

He sipped from his glass of iced tea. “Hm. Well, honesty didn’t buy me as much sympathy as I thought it would.”

“And you’re surprised about that? Listen, when the heart of a small child is at stake, there’s not a lot of wiggle room. I suggest you get this right the first time.”

He smiled in spite of himself. He shook his head and laughed. “I think you’re going to like my mother,” he said.

Aiden had jarred Maureen into remembering what it was like when one’s mother visited, and it didn’t matter if it was the maternal or paternal mother. There was a definite lack of privacy for the newly married couple, but the upside could be domestic assistance, and Shelby needed some of that. Although Shelby and Luke had been together quite a while, they hadn’t been married a whole month yet—and the bedroom Maureen was using was filled with wedding gifts that had yet to be put away. Shelby was a new college student and Luke worked hard on his property, his cabins and house, all day, seven days a week. And there was Art, who was very attached to Maureen and often spent his time with her.

So Maureen busied herself by making sure she spent quality time with Art, often fishing with him, and trying to tidy the house and put away the wedding gifts. She made sure that Shelby and Luke ended their busy days to find dinner prepared, clean and folded laundry on their bed and the house polished and smelling good. That much she had learned from her own mother and mother-in-law.

As for daughters-in-law, Maureen didn’t have much experience with them. Sean had been painfully accurate in describing Aiden’s and Luke’s attempts at marriage as train wrecks. She’d go a step further and label their wives difficult, high maintenance and selfish. Shelby was none of that, and although she hadn’t seen Franci in years, Maureen remembered her as good-natured and sweet. However, Shelby had been extremely moody just lately and Maureen wondered if her mere presence had become an irritant. Also, she had not yet been invited to meet Rosie; she wasn’t sure if that was Sean’s doing or Franci’s. She suspected Sean; he’d grown very protective of his newfound daughter. And Sean was unusually quiet. Something weighed on the mind of her most entertaining son. She suspected it had a lot to do with his being down to four weeks and a few days of leave left with which to get his entire future settled.

As for Maureen, she hadn’t been this lonely since her husband’s death twelve years ago, when she found herself so isolated in a dark Illinois winter. That’s what had motivated her to move to Phoenix where she could work, make friends, be outdoors year-round and live somewhere her boys might enjoy visiting her.

But playing the waiting game at Luke’s while everyone around her was busy with work, school or chores was wearing on her last nerve. Four days had passed with no reprieve. Sean helped Luke until midafternoon when he was allowed to fetch Rosie from day care and take her home. Then he had dinner with Franci and Rosie, and then he was back at Luke’s before ten. Home, without much to say, although he had kept his word and taken pictures every day.

On her fifth day in Virgin River, Maureen finally got her break. The next day was Saturday and she was invited to accompany Rosie and Sean to Beale Air Force Base. Sean would introduce Rosie to both her grandmother and his plane, at least one of which Rosie had expressed great interest in.

“Will Franci come along?” Maureen asked.

“Franci is pulling a twenty-four-hour shift in Redding with a medical airlift group and Rosie stays with Franci’s mother. Since Franci leaves at about 5:00 a.m. to make the drive over the mountains, I’ll be picking Rosie up at Vivian’s first thing tomorrow morning and returning her tomorrow night. So, we have her all to ourselves.”

“What will I say to her?” Maureen wondered out loud.

“Tell her you’re happy to meet her. Then ask a question or two—like what color her bedroom is, what she likes to wear for dress up or what she likes to cook in her play kitchen. That’ll get you two talking in no time. And rest up—she’s exhausting!”

Sean could see that the hardest thing for Maureen was trying to keep her enthusiasm in check enough so she didn’t completely overwhelm Rosie. He shouldn’t have worried—Rosie took the edge off things right away. “You have wed hair like me!” she exclaimed. From that point on, the two redheads chattered like a couple of magpies all the way to Beale—more than a three-hour drive. They took along books and a couple of Rosie’s favorite toys—her toy computer helped her practice letters, numbers and writing. Maureen sat in the backseat with Rosie and they played and read the whole drive while Sean chauffeured. Franci called his cell twice to check on them before he even made it to Beale.